LGBTQ news and entertainment
Almost 30 year old Tyler Marcum does a side by side video dance with his 20 year old self:
“When I was 20 I filmed an interpretive dance to Dixie Chicks’ “Landslide” in my college bedroom – and in my underwear. I turn 30 in a week and couldn’t think of a better homage to my twenties than a sensible mash-up.”
(h/t Andy Towle)
As the Boy Scouts of America prepares to vote tomorrow on a proposal that would change its long-standing policy of excluding gay boys from Scout units, the executive director of Scouts for Equality, a gay rights advocacy group, is hopeful that the proposal will pass–but says this is just the first step.
“This is a good step in the right direction, we want youth protection throughout the entire program, and it looks we’ll be able to see that on the 23rd,” executive director Zach Wahls tells Top Line. “But after that, we have to make sure that we are telling Scouts that when you turn 18 you are still welcome in the program.”
The proposal up for vote will not change the BSA’s policy of banning gay adult leaders. To Wahls, changing that policy is not just political, it’s personal.
“As the straight Eagle Scout son of a lesbian couple, I know exactly how important lifting the ban on adults is,” he says. “I got to see first-hand when I was growing up in Iowa the impact that great, wise, loving parents could have in the lives of my Scouters.”
From GLAAD:
Tomorrow, 1400 members of the Boy Scouts’ National Council will converge in Dallas to vote on a resolution critical to the Boy Scouts’ longstanding ban on gay members.
James Dale — an openly gay former Eagle Scout whose membership was revoked by the BSA — has a special request:
Show your support for equality in the Boy Scouts: Change your profile pic now.
Now more than ever we all must speak up about why gay youth and parents should be able to participate in the Boy Scouts.
The suicide note left near the alter of Notre Dame Cathredral by anti-gay marriage activist Dominique Venner has been released:
“I believe it is necessary to sacrifice myself to break with the lethargy that is overwhelming us. I am killing myself to awaken slumbering consciences.”
According to JoeMyGod, Venner’s suicide remains headline news across France today.
However, the ruling Socialist Party has issued a denouncement of his action. Party head Harlem Desir: “The bill has been approved and opponents of marriage for everyone need to understand that it is now the law of the republic.”
(via JMG)
The official trailer exclusive for The Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman!
In theaters July 26th, 2013.
In 2006, 81% of voters in Tennessee approved a state constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman as “the only legally recognized marital contract” in the state.
A new poll by Vanderbilt University shows a marked improvement in LGBT rights in the state.
51% of Tennesseans would support some sort of relationship recognition (32% support marriage equality, 17% support civil unions).
That being said, the state’s constitutional ban remains a big obstacle for LGBT rights advocates for years to come.
(source)
As the current immigration reform legislation was being considered last night by the US Senate Judiciary committee, it became clear that GOP opposition to inclusion of LGBT rights would kill the bill. After months of threats to derail the legislation, last night the Republican senators on the committee made good their promises.
As such, Sen. Patrick Leahy, chairman of the committee said, “I take the Republican sponsors of this important legislation at their word that they will abandon their own efforts if discrimination is removed from our immigration system,” Leahy said. “So, with a heavy heart, and as a result of my conclusion that Republicans will kill this vital legislation if this anti-discrimination amendment is added, I will withhold calling for a vote on it. But I will continue to fight for equality.”
Sen. Leahy asked those who stood against the amendment to add LGBT protections to the bill to address the issue.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) warned that “the bill would fall apart because the coalition would fall apart” if the amendment was adopted. “It would be a bridge too far,” Graham said.
Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake: “It would certainly mean this bill would not move forward.”
The fear of losing the entire bill proved too much for some Democrats on the committee. Senators Feinstein, Durbin and Schumer all expressed their sadness at the lack of LGBT inclusion but said the loss of the full legislation outweighed the amendment.
Said Schumer, “They’ve made it perfectly clear that if this provision is included … they will abandon [the bill.] … If we make the effort to add it to this bill, they will walk away. … The result: no equality, no immigration bill, everyone loses. … Much as it pains me, I cannot support this amendment if it will bring down the bill.”
The committee voted 13-5 to move the immigration-reform bill for consideration by the full Senate, which is expected to take up the legislation in June.
LGBT advocates were immediately vocal.
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin: “Instead of working to achieve common-sense solutions, Senators Graham, Flake, McCain and Rubio threatened to derail the entire immigration bill to appease a small but vocal group of anti-gay social conservatives that will do anything to stop progress for lesbian and gay couples. We are extremely disappointed that our allies did not put their anti-LGBT colleagues on the spot and force a vote on the measure that remains popular with the American people.”
Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez, co-director of GetEqual: “Today it became clear that our so-called ‘friends’ don’t have the courage or the spine to stand up for what’s right, and are content to buy into the false choice that Republicans created — holding a sorely-needed immigration bill hostage in order to cement inequality into law.”
(source)
A new Man of Steel trailer features a masked look at General Zod (Michael Shannon), who has “journeyed over an ocean of stars” to reach Earth, which is sheltering Kal-El (Henry Cavill, aka Superman).
(via Towleroad)
The American Red Cross is working around the clock to help people in Oklahoma after Monday’s devastating tornadoes with shelters, food, water and supplies, and more workers, supplies and equipment are moving into the area today.
If you would like to help those affected by the disaster in Oklahoma, you can make a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
People can donate by:
• visiting www.redcross.org
• calling 1-800-RED CROSS
• texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
These donations help provide food, shelter and emotional support to those affected by disasters.
The American Red Cross is an organization you can trust to help in times of need.